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Factors associated with muscle function in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy

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Abstract

Purpose

Muscle dysfunction such as loss of muscle mass and decreased muscle strength is often observed in patients with hematologic malignancies. However, specific factors associated with muscle function have not been identified. The purpose of this study was to identify significant factors affecting muscle function in patients with hematologic malignancies.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, observational study. Eighty-eight inpatients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy were recruited. Participants were evaluated for muscle thickness and isometric knee extensor strength as indicators of muscle function, physical activity, physical symptoms, psychological distress, and self-efficacy at the start date of rehabilitation. Multiple regression analysis with muscle function as the dependent variable and clinical information and other evaluation items as explanatory variables was performed.

Results

Lymphocyte count, the geriatric nutritional risk index, and physical activity were significant factors associated with muscle thickness, while physical activity and self-efficacy were significant factors associated with isometric knee extensor strength.

Conclusions

Nutritional status, physical activity, and self-efficacy were significant factors associated with muscle function in patients with hematologic malignancies. Rehabilitation intervention focusing on improving physical activity and nutritional status should be considered necessary for enhancing muscle function in patients with hematologic malignancies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the members of the Department of Rehabilitation, Nagasaki University Hospital, and the Department of Locomotive Rehabilitation Science, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, for their support. This research would not have been possible without their leadership and cooperation.

Funding

This work was supported in part by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP26282156.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Locomotive Rehabilitation Science, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan

    Takuya Fukushima, Jiro Nakano, Junya Sakamoto & Minoru Okita

  2. Department of Rehabilitation, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan

    Takuya Fukushima & Ayumi Natsuzako

  3. Department of Rehabilitation, Michinoo Miyata Orthopaedic Clinic, Nagasaki, Japan

    Shun Ishii

  4. Clinical Research Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan

    Shuntaro Sato

  5. Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan

    Yasushi Miyazaki

Authors
  1. Takuya Fukushima
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  2. Jiro Nakano
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  4. Ayumi Natsuzako
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  5. Shuntaro Sato
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  7. Yasushi Miyazaki
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  8. Minoru Okita
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiro Nakano.

Ethics declarations

The study was approved by the hospital ethics committee before the start of the study (approval number 15072757), and written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Fukushima, T., Nakano, J., Ishii, S. et al. Factors associated with muscle function in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy. Support Care Cancer 28, 1433–1439 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04955-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04955-2

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